Assembly of seat belt buckle and belt tightener

ABSTRACT

An assembly of seat belt buckle and a seat belt tightener has a seat belt buckle that is connected to a seat belt tightener by a pulling element. The pulling element is firmly connected within a buckle casing to a buckle mechanism of the belt buckle. The pulling element, in a region directly adjacent to the buckle casing is at least partly enclosed by a cover. The cover has an exterior shape that is tapered towards a direction in which the buckle is pulled during a seat belt tightening process. The external dimensions of the cover in the region of its larger cross section approximate the external dimensions of the adjacent end of the buckle casing and in the external dimensions of the cover in the region of its smaller cross section approximate to the external dimensions of the pulling element. Put another way, the taper of the cover approximates a taper defined by the external dimensions of an adjacent end of the buckle casing and the external dimensions of the cable over the length of the cover.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an assembly of a seat beltbuckle and a seat belt tightener.

DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0002] EP0 685 371 B1 teaches a seat belt buckle for a front seat of amotor vehicle that is positioned between the central console and thefront seat. The distance between the central console and the closestsurface of the seat is in many cases relatively small. Only a narrow gapis provided between the central console and a seat, or between two seatcushions, into which the seat belt buckle can be withdrawn by a belttightener. The front seats can be longitudinally adjusted by up to 330mm which may further narrow said gap. During the belt tightening processthe buckle casing may become lodged in said gap. This undesirabletrapping of the belt buckle arises in particular due to a transversemotion that occurs momentarily due to the mass inertia of the bucklebeing accelerated during the belt tightening process. Movements of avehicle occupant wearing the seat belt, in particular in the upper legregion, over which the pelvic belt is drawn during the belt tighteningprocess, can also cause the belt buckle to become lodged in the gapbetween the central console and a seat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] There is provided in accordance with the present invention anassembly of seat belt buckle and a seat belt tightener comprising a seatbelt buckle connected to a seat belt tightener by a pulling element, thepulling element being firmly connected within a buckle casing to abuckle mechanism, the pulling element, in a region directly adjacent tothe buckle casing is at least partly enclosed by a cover having anexterior shape that is tapered towards the direction in which the buckleis pulled during a seat belt tightening process, the external dimensionsof the cover in the region of its larger cross section approximate theexternal dimensions of an adjacent end of the buckle casing and theexternal dimensions of the cover in the region of its smaller crosssection approximate the external dimensions of the pulling element. Putanother way, the taper of the cover approximates a taper defined by theexternal dimensions of an adjacent end of the buckle casing and theexternal dimensions of the cable over the length of the cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0004]FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of an assembly of seatbelt buckle and a seat belt tightener.

[0005]FIG. 2 is a front view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

[0006]FIG. 3 is a sectional view along section line 3-3 in FIG. 1.

[0007]FIG. 4 is a side view of a second embodiment of an assembly ofseat belt buckle and a seat belt tightener.

[0008]FIG. 5 is a front view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4.

[0009]FIG. 6 is a sectional view along section line 6-6 in FIG. 4.

[0010]FIG. 7 is a side view, partially broken away, of a thirdembodiment of an assembly of seat belt buckle and a seat belt tightener.

[0011]FIG. 8 is a front view, partially broken away, of the embodimentshown in FIG. 7.

[0012]FIG. 9 is a side view of a further embodiment of an assembly ofseat belt buckle and a seat belt tightener.

[0013]FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9along section line 10-10.

[0014]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9and 10.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0015] The figures show embodiments of assemblies of seat belt bucklesand seat belt tighteners. In each embodiment a seat belt buckle 1 has abuckle casing 4 that encloses a known buckle mechanism (not shown)designed to engage a buckle tongue (not shown) in a known manner,wherein the buckle tongue is attached to a seat belt (not shown) in aknown manner. A first end of at least one pulling element 2 is connectedto the buckle mechanism. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 the pullingelement is a single cable and in the embodiment of FIGS. 4 to 6 thepulling element is a double cable. In the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8,the pulling element 2 is also a single cable.

[0016] A second end of the pulling element 2 is connected to a seat belttightener 3. Any suitable seat belt tightener, such at that taught in EP0 685 371 B1, which is incorporated herein by reference, may be used inthe practice of the present invention. The seat belt buckle 1 can bepulled by the seat belt tightener in a seat belt tightening direction 8,that is to say the direction in which the buckle is pulled during a seatbelt tightening process. This results in tightening in a known manner aseat belt (not shown) that is connected to the seat belt buckle 1 via abuckle tongue (not shown).

[0017] In a region directly adjacent to the lower end of the bucklecasing 4, the pulling element 2 is enclosed by a cover 5 made of a solidmaterial, for instance plastic. As used herein terms such as “lower”,“upper”, “above”, “below”, “left”, “right” and the like are understoodto be used in the context of the orientation of the assemblies depictedin the drawing figures that accompany this text. The cover 5 ispreferably fastened to the pulling element 2 and can extend into thebuckle casing 4 for an improved position fixing. The cover 5 cancompletely or partly enclose the pulling element 2. The cover 5 has anexterior shape that is tapered towards the direction 8 that the seatbelt tightener 3 pulls the seat belt buckle during the belt tighteningprocess. In the region of its larger cross section, the externaldimensions of the cover 5 approximate the external dimensions of thenext adjacent end of the buckle casing 4. In the region of its smallercross section, the external dimensions of the cover 5 approximate theexternal dimensions of the pulling element 2. This creates a smoothtransitional contour between the pulling element 2 and the lower end ofthe buckle casing 4. That is to say, the taper of the cover approximatesa taper defined by the external dimensions of an adjacent end of thebuckle casing and the external dimensions of the pulling element overthe length of the cover. As used herein and in the claims, thedimensions of one component approximate the dimensions of anothercomponent when the dimensions of the two components are similar but notthe same, or from one end of a first component to the other thedimensions are in the same general relationship as the correspondingdimensions of the related components are to one another.

[0018] The cover 5 ensures that during the tightening of the seat belt,i.e. during the movement of the seat belt buckle 1 in the direction 8 inwhich the buckle is pulled during a seat belt tightening process. Saidmovement can be carried out unhindered in a narrow gap, in particularbetween a central console of a vehicle and the adjacent vehicle seat orduring the tightening in the rear seats or rear bench seats of thevehicle.

[0019] Preferably, to fix the position of the cover 5, at least oneprojection 7 can be arranged on the cover, extending into the interiorof the buckle casing 4, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. It is also possible,however, to more than one, for instance two, projections 7 on the coveras shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0020] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the cover 5 is locatedin an expansion bellows 6, which essentially covers the total length ofthe pulling element 2. In this embodiment, the cover 5 is formed as onepiece with an pulling element 9, and the pulling element 2, which is asingle cable, is anchored to the buckle mechanism (no shown), inparticular to a buckle plate. Rivets inserted into fastening orifices11, fasten the pulling element anchor 9 to the buckle mechanism. Thepulling element 2, which is preferably a cable with a traction strand,is firmly connected 12 to the pulling element anchor 9 in a clamping orcrimping manner. In FIGS. 7 and 8 the cover 5 is formed on the pullingelement anchor 9, which extends into the buckle casing (not furtherrepresented). The cover 5 comprises the same material as the pullingelement anchor 9, in particular a metal or metal alloy.

[0021] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, the cover 5 is formedas one piece with the pulling element anchor 9. The pulling element 2 ispreferably a cable, preferably formed of two strands, that is wrappedaround the approximately V-shaped pulling element anchor 9 via a cableloop 13. Rivets inserted into fastening orifices 11, fasten the pullingelement anchor 9 to the buckle mechanism.

[0022] A collar 10 is formed on the cover 5 to support the expansionbellows shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The lower end (not further represented)of the buckle casing 4 is located above the collar 10 and close to thecollar.

[0023] During the seat belt tightening process in a crash the beltbuckle is prevented from being lodged in the narrow gap between thecentral console and a the vehicle seat, or between a pair of adjoiningseat cushions. The buckle cover 5 functions as a guide element, ensuringthat during the seat belt tightening process the belt buckle guidedwithout hindrance even through a narrow passage. The buckle coverprovides a smooth transitional contour between the pulling element andthe front end of the buckle casing 4 as viewed during the tightening ofthe seat belt. The pulling element 2 can be a single or double cablethat is fastened to the buckle mechanism in the buckle casing.

[0024] Many changes and modifications in the above described embodimentsof the invention can, of course, be carried out without departing fromthe scope thereof. Accordingly, that scope is intended to be limitedonly by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. An assembly of seat belt buckle and a seat belt tightenercomprising a seat belt buckle connected to a seat belt tightener by apulling element, the pulling element being firmly connected within abuckle casing to a buckle mechanism, the pulling element, in a regiondirectly adjacent to the buckle casing is at least partly enclosed by acover having an exterior shape that is tapered towards a direction inwhich the buckle is pulled during a seat belt tightening process, theexternal dimensions of the cover in the region of its larger crosssection approximate the external dimensions of an adjacent end of thebuckle casing and the cover in the region of its smaller cross sectionapproximate the external dimensions of the pulling element.
 2. Theassembly of seat belt buckle and a seat belt tightener according toclaim 1 wherein the cover is attached to the pulling element.
 3. Theassembly of seat belt buckle and a seat belt tightener according toclaim 1 wherein the cover extends into the interior of the bucklecasing.
 4. The assembly of seat belt buckle and a seat belt tighteneraccording to claim 2 wherein the cover is formed as one piece with apulling element anchor, the pulling element being anchored to the bucklemechanism.
 5. The assembly of seat belt buckle and a seat belt tighteneraccording to claim 4 wherein the pulling element is firmly connected tothe pulling element anchor by a press fit.
 6. The assembly of seat beltbuckle and a seat belt tightener according claim 4 wherein the pullingelement is connected to the pulling element anchor by a loop.
 7. Theassembly of seat belt buckle and a seat belt tightener according toclaim 4 wherein the pulling element is a cable.
 8. The assembly of seatbelt buckle and a seat belt tightener according to claim 1 wherein thecover is at least partly located in an expansion bellows enclosing thepulling element.
 9. An assembly of seat belt buckle and a seat belttightener comprising a seat belt buckle connected to a seat belttightener by a pulling element, the pulling element being firmlyconnected within a buckle casing to a buckle mechanism, the pullingelement, in a region directly adjacent to the buckle casing is at leastpartly enclosed by a cover having an exterior shape that is taperedtowards a direction in which the buckle is pulled during a seat belttightening process, the taper of the cover approximating a taper definedby the external dimensions of an adjacent end of the buckle casing andthe external dimensions of the pulling element over the length of thecover.
 10. The assembly of seat belt buckle and a seat belt tighteneraccording to claim 9 wherein the cover is attached to the pullingelement.
 11. The assembly of seat belt buckle and a seat belt tighteneraccording to claim 9 wherein the cover extends into the interior of thebuckle casing.
 12. The assembly of seat belt buckle and a seat belttightener according to claim 10 wherein the cover is formed as one piecewith a pulling element anchor, the pulling element being anchored to thebuckle mechanism.
 13. The assembly of seat belt buckle and a seat belttightener according to claim 12 wherein the pulling element is firmlyconnected to the pulling element anchor by a press fit.
 14. The assemblyof seat belt buckle and a seat belt tightener according claim 12 whereinthe pulling element is connected to the pulling element anchor by aloop.
 15. The assembly of seat belt buckle and a seat belt tighteneraccording to claim 12 wherein the pulling element is a cable.
 16. Theassembly of seat belt buckle and a seat belt tightener according toclaim 9 wherein the cover is at least partly located in an expansionbellows enclosing the pulling element.
 17. An assembly of seat beltbuckle and a seat belt tightener comprising a seat belt buckle connectedto a seat belt tightener by a cable, the cable being firmly connectedwithin a buckle casing to a buckle mechanism, the cable, in a regiondirectly adjacent to the buckle casing is at least partly enclosed by acover having an exterior shape that is tapered towards a direction inwhich the buckle is pulled during a seat belt tightening process, thetaper of the cover approximating a taper defined by the externaldimensions of an adjacent end of the buckle casing and the externaldimensions of the cable over the length of the cover.
 18. The assemblyof seat belt buckle and a seat belt tightener according to claim 17wherein the cover is formed as one piece with a pulling element anchor,the pulling element being anchored to the buckle mechanism.
 19. Theassembly of seat belt buckle and a seat belt tightener according toclaim 17 wherein the cover is at least partly located in an expansionbellows enclosing the pulling element.
 20. The assembly of seat beltbuckle and a seat belt tightener according to claim 17 wherein the coverextends into the interior of the buckle casing.